News From Howe's Cave, NY

Students Document Quarry Wildlife, Ecology

2003-- HOWES CAVE--Students from the State University of New York at Cobleskill are studying and documenting the unique biological and ecological aspects of the Howes Cave quarry property. Those findings are expected to add another dimension to the national museum being created there.

Cobleskill Stone Products, Inc., plans to consolidate its stone-crushing operations in the Howes Cave quarry, which has been abandoned for about 30 years. The company is also behind the effort to create a museum of mining and geology in The Cave House, a stone hotel built on the site in about 1865. "There are opportunities here for study both above and below ground," said Ben Guenther, the project's educational coordinator. "We welcome and appreciate the students' interest; that's what makes this such a unique partnership between industry and education." The entire property consists of about 350 acres of karst, or cavernous, terrain. The original entrance to Howes Cave is located next to The Cave House, and the area -- once the floor of an ancient sea -- is pocketed with limestone caves and sinkholes. Working with Guenther, students in the Fisheries and Wildlife Technology curriculum began their studies on the property this fall, as part of Associate Professor Kevin Berner's Wildlife Management class. An informal survey of the above-ground property revealed three unique habitat types, said Berner: A deciduous and or/coniferous forest, and abandoned field showing signs of re-growth, and two pond areas. Thirty -six students in the three lab sections of Berner's class spent a half day in each of the different habitats. They conducted surveys of the tree densities and size classes, identified plant species, and documented animals or animal signs. "Cobleskill Stone Products has provided an invaluable educational opportunity for SUNY students to apply what they have learned in the classrooms in to real life situations," said Prof. Berner. The students' work also took them below ground. Led by Guenther, the class explored the cave where they were able to identify five species of bats. Additionally , student volunteers and Prof. Berner contributed more than 60 man-hours to clean some of the sinkholes on the northeastern part of the property that had been filled with tires, garbage, and other debris over the years. "Students took an immediate interest in the site," said Berner. "Not only did they enjoy the above-ground field work, they enjoyed the cave and the historical and various geological features". Of course, some students took a greater interest in the site than others. Doug Sangalli of Duanesburg and Shamar Rissler of New York set up infrared cameras which after nightfall were triggered by movement to document habitat use by animals. They additionally used special foot print track plates and lures to capture footprints. Some of the students' work may be later utilized by future animal researchers. Berner said the final reports included ways to manage the various wildlife species on the property, as well as ways to attract "viewable" wildlife to the immediate vicinity, the area that will eventually be opened to visitors. Other students developed ideas on how the site could be used for educational and research purposes in connection with the Cave House Museum. Those plans include a nature trail and observation area, two ideas shared by student planners. Berner said he plans to continue using the site for class projects and volunteer work this spring. "It gives students an opportunity to share their skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the local community."

Cave House Awarded State Education Charter

November, 2003-- ALBANY--The Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology being developed in Howes Cave has been awarded its provisional charter by the Board of Regents of the state Education Department. "It's extremely gratifying to see the state's top educational policy-making body recognize the numerous learning opportunities available in Howes Cave," said Ben Guenther, a member of the museum board of directors and the project's education coordinator. "It immediately elevates our status as an institution," Guenther continued. "It allows us to pursue further associations with the State Museum, with leading experts in several fields, and with many others who can provide valuable support." The charter, granted Nov. 14, 2003 has the same legal effect as other forms of incorporation, and among other provisions, formalizes the museum's long- and short-term educational objectives. In documents filed for Board of Regents consideration, the charter lists Michael J. Galasso as president of the museum's first board of directors; Dana Cudmore as Secretary; and Clements McGiver, Treasurer. Work to create the national Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology has been in progress for more than a year. However, efforts to make the Howes Cave quarry and cave a unique learning environment have been led by Guenther and McGiver for more than a decade. Cobleskill Stone Products, too, has had a decade-long vision of creating a museum and educational center at the site. Abandoned for nearly 30 years, the Howes Cave quarry is being brought back to life by Cobleskill Stone Products, which plans to consolidate its stone-crushing operations there. Through company support, the former Cave House - a hotel built of cut limestone in about 1865 - is being turned into a museum, and portions of the historic cave and quarry are being dedicated for non-profit, educational use. When completed, several years from now, the museum and quarry plans to offer visitors two very different looks at the natural world. "Visitors will see its beauty in caverns millions of years in the making and find fossils from an ancient sea," Guenther said. "In a working stone quarry, they'll see the practical, industrial side to the natural resources of Howes Cave, with uses in everything from highways and building materials to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics." The museum include classrooms for guest lecturers, as well as exhibits and artifacts. In steps taken leading to its charter, the Cave House Museum received both support and commendations from some of the state's top geologists and leading educators in the field. State Geologist Robert Fakundiny, Ph.DS., and William Kelly, Ph.D., the chief geologist of the New York State Geological Survey, voiced their support for the museum as a planned education center, and have offered to assist the new museum by providing rock specimens, interpretive displays, and other educational tools. Both men are scientists with the New York State Museum Geologic Survey. At a July meeting with members of the Cave House board, they were joined by James R. Ebert, associate professor of sedimentary geology at SUNY Oneonta; Paul Rubin of HydroQuest, an expert in the field of hydrology; Kevin Berner, an associate professor of wildlife biology at SUNY Cobleskill; and Richard Herrick, a professor of science and math, also at SUNY Cobleskill. In addition to interests in several fields of earth science - mineralogy, paleontology, stratigraphy, and others - there are also opportunities to study wildlife, history, and industry. "As stewards of this unique environmental - and an ecologically - sensitive area, we can provide educators and researchers with study opportunities unavailable anywhere else," said Guenther.

Museum Appeal Yields Historic Finds

2003-- HOWES CAVE--A public appeal by the Cave House Museum has yielded several interesting finds. Under construction in the Howes Cave quarry, the Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology is accumulating an extensive collection of rare photographs, documents, and other artifacts related to the historical cave, the cementworks, and surrounding community. "We had a great response to our recent request for memorabilia," said Dana Cudmore, a member of the museum's board of Trustees. "Something has come in just about daily." Recent contributions have included: -- quarry photos dating to the 1930s, contributed by Glenn VanNatten of Cobleskill; -- photos of the Howe Cave Hotel and patrons, from the 1940s-50s, contributed by Anna Bautochka of Cobleskill; -- the guest register from the Pavilion Hotel, dated 1886-1894, given by Paul Johnson Jr. of Cobleskill; -- "A Trip Through the North American Cement Company," a descriptive brochure from about 1930, given by the Middleburgh Public Library; and -- photos of the Helderberg Cement Company, about 1900; contributed by Hope Coons of Cobleskill. "Each is a fascinating glimpse at the community and a way of life that has since vanished from the Schoharie County landscape," said Cudmore. "The museum board is very appreciative." While the Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology is not scheduled to open for about three years, directors have already begun planning the exhibit space, and continue to seek items for possible display. Contributed materials can be copied by digital reproduction and returned to donors. All contributors will be recognized by the museum. For additional information, or to make a contribution, call Cudmore at (518) 234-4241 or (518) 234-0221.

Work Begins On Cave House Roof

2003-- HOWES CAVE-Work began in mid-October to replace the roof of the historic Cave House, part of the rehabilitation plan that will turn the former hotel into a national museum of mining and geology. With select window and door restoration already underway, the combined projects will make the building weather-tight before the onset of winter, according to project architect Clemens McGiver. The Cave House was built during 1865 to 1872 as a hotel that welcomed visitors to Lester Howes famous cave. When completed, the building made of locally cut stone will serve as a museum and visitors center for the attractions planned in the Howes Cave quarry. Abandoned for three decades, a tornado in 1989 ripped much of the original roof off the Cave House; since then, the interior has suffered severe weather related damage as well. Part of the restoration project is to replace a temporary roof installed before last winter, and its near record snowfall. "We would have lost everything inside without the temporary covering," said McGiver. When completed, the roof will meet al state and federal requirements for historic preservation. As weather permits, contractors with Ultra Construction of West Fulton are jacking and shorting some of the original rafters which have shifted over the last century, and installing new sill plates onto the existing stone walls. Their first task was to replace the building's deteriorated eaves and cornices. Hemlock "sister" beams are being applied to the original rafters where needed and a new weather-tight sheathing will cover the entire roof. A new slate roof-matching the original -can then be installed. The original slate came from Pennsylvania quarry, according to New York State Museum geologists who have toured the site. Work in the Howe Cave quarry is being spearheaded by Cobleskill Stone Products, which plans to consolidate its stone crushing operations there. Several complimentary ventures, such as the Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology, will integrate industry with elements of tourism, education, geology, history, and agribusiness. The huge scope of the project is expected to take several years to complete.

Bid Awarded for Cave House Restoration

2003--HOWES CAVE-The first bid for renovations to the 1865 to 1872 Cave House was awarded last week to a Sharon Springs company for historic window and door restoration. Contractors' Millwork, Inc. was given the multi-year contract by the Cave House Museum's Board of Directors. The company, owned by father and son Alden and Steve Witham, specializes in historic wooden window, sash and shutter reproduction and restoration. The Cave House, once a hotel that welcomed visitors to famous Howes Cave, and later offices for the many cement companies that worked the Howes Cave quarry, is being re-created as a national museum of mining and geology. Work is expected to take 4 to 5 years to complete. "We were very selective in the bidding process," said Architect Clemens McGiver, "Invited bidders were limited to only those with experience in historic preservation. We're pleased a local company met those high standards." "This is a great project," said Alden Witham, "The historic museum will be a source of pride for the community for many, many years. We're happy to be a part." The Cave House has been abandoned for more than three decades. Over the years, vandals have broken all of the windows, most of the doors, and knocked holes in many of the interior walls. A tornado tore the roof off in 1989, and the interior has suffered severe weather damage. Contractors Millwork will replace or restore all of the 61 windows and seven doors in the Cave House to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Rehabilitation. In many cases, they will be able to use native pine or ash that has grown on the quarry property. They've already begun cutting some lumber. "We prefer to cut our own," said Alden. "We've learned to cut the premium wood from every piece." It will be several months before their work is evident. After cutting, drying, and preserving the window sections, most of the work-after some assembly-will go into storage at the Withams' factory in the old Railroad Station on Chestnut Street, Sharon Springs, or in one of the secured industrial buildings at the quarry. There are a variety of window sizes, shapes, and dimensions, as well as some interior trim to contend with in this unique historic building. The Cave House features four basic types of windows, ranging from traditional to 2/2 double hungs of varying sizes, to floor-to-ceiling double casement units; and traditional raised panel entries. "When completed , all windows and door units will meet the standards for full restoration," said McGiver. The methods employed by Contractors' Millwork add another historic dimension to the Howes Cave quarry project. The company uses equipment from the mid-1800's, as well as other 19th century methods which include wooden nails and wedges-no glue. "It's done the old way," said Alden. "We couldn't make it any better." Contractors' Millwork, Inc., is a family-run small business founded in 1986. The company's unique methods have earned them national recognition as well as publicity in numerous home and wood workers' trade journals. The company was featured most recently in "Old House Interiors," a national journal dedicated to period home interior design.

Cave House Golf Tournament Raises Nearly $43,000

August, 2003-- COBLESKILL-The first golf tournament to benefit the Cave House museum of Mining and Geology raised nearly $50,000, the museum's directors report. Held on August 29th at the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club, 50 sponsors contributed $42,340 to the museum being developed in the 1865 Cave House in the Howes Cave quarry. "For our first tournament effort, we're very pleased with the turnout and want to thank all who contributed," said Michael Galasso, vice-president of the Cobleskill Stone Products, and a member of the museum's board of directors. Galasso said a similar tournament is already being planned for next year. The event attracted natural resources industry representatives and affiliated vendor companies from several states, including Pennsylvania, Connecticut. Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, and Oklahoma. "It's verified what we've known all along," said Galasso, "that our support foundation will span the country." Participants first had the opportunity to tour the Cave House, cave, and quarry that morning and were treated to a catered breakfast by "A taste of Europe", of Richmondville. "We were told throughout the day what a fantastic project it is we're undertaking," Galasso said. Following the shotgun start at noon, the 18 foursomes competed in a scramble format for a variety of prizes donated by Cobleskill Stone Products. The first, second, third, and last place teams received trophies mounted with a piece of slate from the Cave House roof. Both lunch and dinner were provided to participants by the Link's Restaurant at the country club. A raffle during the social hour and meal raised another $1,000, approximately. In addition to the prizes contributed by local merchants, participants also purchased $550 of raffle tickets to benefit the community park being planned in Howe Cave.

Work Begins In Historic Hotel

February, 2003-- HOWES CAVE- Renovations to the historic 1865 to 1872 Cave House in the Howes Cave quarry got underway, with workers stripping the dilapidated hotel's interior to prepare it for the

upcoming construction season. Despite the frigid temperatures, more than a half-dozen employees of Cobleskill Stone Products, Inc. are spending the next few weeks working both inside and outside of the Cave House, a imposing gothic building constructed of cut limestone.

When completed, the Cave House will be the centerpiece of the Howes Cave quarry redevelopment project, a unique private industry initiative that combines elements of the natural resources industry, tourism, education, and agribusiness. The Cave House, originally a hotel adjacent to the entrance of Howes Cave, will become a museum of mining and geology, and serve as a visitors center to the site. "We've scheduled about three weeks for selective demolition inside the building," said project architect Clemens McGiver. "When completed, contractors will have a clear picture of the hurdles they'll face on a job of this magnitude." The three-story building has been abandoned for nearly 30 years, and was last used as an office building for the Penn-Dixie Cement Company. Vandals have broken all of the 46 windows, many of the 7 doors, and knocked holes in many of the interior walls.

A tornado tore the roof off in 1989, and the interior has suffered severe weather damage. A temporary roof was constructed last month over the original portion of the hotel to protect it from further damage this winter, but a two-story addition on the north side of the building

was left open. "Nothing in the interior of the addition could be salvaged," McGiver said. The roof had collapsed through to the basement. A crane was used

to haul the refuse up and out of the dilapidated interior of the addition, added sometime after the completion of the main building. In the original section of the Cave House, workers are removing interior debris, stripping out the former electric cables, circuits and boxes, stabilizing floor joists and ceiling beams, and

knocking out walls. In some places, some of the interior framing may be salvageable, said McGiver. "Our goal is to expose the existing conditions to allow a complete structural assessment." Schematic designs for the museum's interior are complete. At the end of the 2003 construction season, developers will have completed the first-floor anteroom, a large classroom area, and the entranceway/courtyard to Howes Cave. The work is part of phase one of the project, which developers plan to complete by the end of next year. Other work scheduled for phase I includes: The new roof; Window and door restoration and replacement; The water and septic systems; Mechanical and electrical work for select areas; and Road work and paving for a parking area. The entire cost of renovating the Cave House is estimated at more than $2 million. Work is expected to be completed in 2005. The museum is chartered as a non-profit organization, and contributions will fund most, if not all, of the work. Several significant contributions have already been received, according to Michael Galasso, a vice president at Cobleskill Stone Products and member of the museum's board of directors. Some Interesting Finds Workers stripping the interior of the historic Cave House to prepare it for the construction season have uncovered several interesting finds. Abandoned for nearly 30 years, The Cave House was built between 1865 to 1872 to welcome visitors to what was then Howes Cave. It is being renovated as a non-profit museum of mining and geology.

Cobleskill Stone Products employees have spent the last two weeks in frigid temperatures removing interior debris, knocking out walls, stabilizing floor joists and ceiling beams to uncover what

-if anything- of the original framing may be salvageable. They've made some unusual discoveries. Lamont Harris was pulling lathe and plaster off a partition wall in the west end of the first floor. In the poorly-lit room, he pulled handful after handful of packed leaves out of the wall and onto the floor. But they weren't leaves. Ben Guenther, the project's education coordinator, walked in the room and recognized the dark brown to black mass on the floor immediately. It was the remains of between 100 and 150 little brown bats (mytosis lucifugus). "It was an accumulation of several years," said Guenther. The interior wall apparently attracted a hibernating colony of bats each year, that once inside, became trapped. The carcasses filled a five-gallon bucket. Guenther estimates there is currently a bat population in Howes Cave of between 300 and 400. At the eastern and western ends of the Cave House, workers tearing down walls uncovered two fireplaces believed to be part of the original 1865 structure. Both were without fire-brick linings, leading project architect Clemens McGiver to believe they burned acetylene. From about 1865, Howes Cave boasted in its promotions that it was "the only cave in the world lighted (sic) by gas," and descriptions of The Cave House say it was "lit throughout by gas and heated by steam." Earlier this year, workers uncovered what is believed to be the underground tank where acetylene was produced, with pipes leading both into the cave and to the Cave House.

Cobleskill Stone Products' Quarry Tour to Mix Geology, Industry, and More

2002-- HOWES CAVE--Plans by Cobleskill Stone Products to revitalize the abandoned Howes Cave quarry and surrounding community include a unique mix of geology, its industrial applications, and history. The company has purchased the abandoned limestone quarry, its facilities, and some of the surrounding property and plans to consolidate its stone crushing operations there. Several complimentary ventures planned by Cobleskill Stone will create a national showcase for the natural resources industry by mixing it with tourism, education, and agribusiness components. "The site has both natural and manmade elements that make it a great destination for anyone interested in rocks and minerals, geology, history and pre-history, natural resources, agriculture, and so much more," said Emil Galasso, president of Cobleskill Stone Products, Inc. "Our goal is to appeal to young and old alike." One aspect of what makes the project of national interest is that the crushing operation, the quarry and its unique geologic features will be open to visitors. Plans include walking tours of the working (surface) mine to show the various stages of the modern quarrying, crushing, washing, and distribution processes. Incorporated into the tour will be descriptions and exhibits on the quarry's rare geological features, created from an ancient sea more than 445 million years ago. Tours will also be offered of the 150-year old underground mine for a historical perspective on the industry, and the two caves on the site--historic Howes Cave and Barytes Cave -- will be open to visitors. The Cave House, a hotel built about 1865 to welcome visitors to famous Howes Cave, is being renovated as a combined museum of geology and mining, and will serve as a visitors center on the site. The museum is chartered as a non-profit corporation. Plans for the tour are being developed by Cobleskill Stone Products, consultant/architect Clemens McGiver of Cobleskill, and by Ben Guenther of Decatur, the education coordinator for the project. "Visitors will be able to see an entire stone-crushing facility in full operation," said Galasso. "Visitors will walk away with a much clearer picture of what our industry contributes to this country's quality of life," said Galasso. "And we think they'll enjoy the learning experience. What young boy hasn't dreamed of sitting behind the controls of a huge piece of heavy construction equipment?" The walking tour will start at the courtyard adjacent to The Cave House, which contains the original entrance to Howes Cave. Visitors will pass beneath the roadthrough a unique stone " barrel vault" built in the late 1800s to move narrow-gauge rail cars into the cave. From there, the self-guided tour will continue east around the 120-foot chimney once used to exhaust dust from the kilns, which melted limestone at 2,700-dgrees. (The chimney itself will become separate attraction at the site. It is being turned into a rock-climbing and rappelling wall.) The tour will continue through the huge stone bins, which are being converted to display areas; at a stockpile, visitors can hunt for fossils, and keep what they find. From there, the path will turn northeast into the quarry and past a collection of historical (and heavy) equipment used by the natural resources industry. Visitors will also walk through the solar/geothermal greenhouses planned at the site, where warm air from an 11-acre underground mine will be used to create a temperate-constant growing environment. The tour will then take visitors to the operations' control station, where they'll have the opportunity to move heavy equipment with hands-on robotics. Finally, visitors will exit the quarry by returning underground through Howes Cave and emerging at The Cave House. Future plans call for an elevated and enclosed walkway starting at the southern end of the quarry which would give visitors a scenic overlook of the current 45-acre quarry. The entire walking tour will be attractively landscaped and maintained. Along the route, exhibits and audio/visual displays will explain both natural and manmade features. Cobleskill Stone Products currently sponsors tours of its Cobleskill facility through a program developed by the state DEC and the New York Construction Materials Association. That program was created to help educators meet state requirements for the fifth grade "rocks and minerals" curriculum. The quarry tour is being developed with those criteria in mind, as well. Additionally , a public park is being designed on 40 acres south of the quarry between Route 7 and the Cobleskill Creek. Featuring ball fields, a swimming pool, nature trail, and picnic area, the park will have a pedestrian link to the quarry tour. The Howes Cave Quarry project has been designed to integrate several different educational and recreational activities into an industrial setting. The quarry will serve as a model for economic development and the adaptive re-use of abandoned industrial facilities.